Lucia Larson Psychotherapy, LCSW

As a late career changer, I am personally sensitive to both the joys and the specific challenges that accompany life transitions and change. I have always had a deep interest in how life experiences, family, and personal histories intersect as people grow and come to know who they are. As a former professional dancer and Pilates teacher, my journey to becoming a therapist began with my focus on physical health and wellness. It was through my relationships partnering with clients on strengthening and healing their bodies that my interest in working more deeply with the full person blossomed. This led me to shift my focus to engaging directly with the emotional and psychological aspects of the whole person through becoming a therapist.

An initial session with me involves an intake process where I ask questions about a client’s general history and present experience. I want to get an initial understanding of who a client is and what is bringing them into therapy. It is also an opportunity for a client to get a sense of who I am, how I work, and how we might work together. I tend to be active in the therapeutic process, when appropriate, and work collaboratively. Therapy with me involves developing a trusting and safe working relationship that provides support, challenges when necessary, and connects with a client’s unique strengths to help foster growth.

While my “home base” is as a psychoanalytically-grounded relational therapist, I continue to study and explore additional modalities, such as CBT, DBT, ACT, and somatically-focused approaches. I am currently engaged in an ongoing integrative psychotherapy program to deepen my knowledge and ability to utilize these modalities in specific ways. I actively work with other practitioners, and embrace growth and learning as a lifelong process. I support and encourage clients in further exploring other areas of interest that promote health and healing, as I continue to do so for myself.

The therapeutic process is one that asks people to approach difficult life experiences, past hurts, emotions, or parts of themselves that may be painful or frightening to face, for a multitude of important reasons. It makes absolute sense that starting therapy can feel intimidating, scary, or overwhelming. It is important to know that therapy is a place to explore, to foster curiosity without judgment, to face issues, to build skills, and to connect to parts of yourself that you may have felt fearful about or been reluctant to explore.